Photo Essay: Summertime in Santa Barbara

Melinda Palacio

When my friend,  Karen Kersting from New Orleans decided to visit Santa Barbara, I made a vacation out of the trip too. Karen's project managing and design expertise were invaluable when our house in New Orleans flooded.  First, I joined her on the Sunset Limited, the Amtrak train that runs from New Orleans to Union Station in Los Angeles. After a short layover in L.A., we took a commuter train to Santa Barbara, where Steve picked us up and we played tourists in our hometown, venturing as far north as Cambria and Hearst Castle. August was the perfect time for a final Summer hoorah. The weather was perfect, hovering between 72 and 80.

Wednesday, I joined my friend in New Orleans and we rode the Sunset Limited to Santa Barbara.

Thursday: On the train, we saw two sunsets.

The parade of sunsets continued. Nothing like a sunset or moonrise over the Santa Barbara Harbor. 

The Santa Barbara Courthouse Gears Up for the movie Cabaret last Friday.

The Santa Barbara Courthouse at night.

Saturday: Let the road trip begin. First stop: wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Sunday: Poetry reading at the Ojai Valley Arts Center.

Emma Trelles and I read to a SRO crowd on Sunday in Ojai.
In honor of the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Steve read a poem about New Orleans.

Sunday: Sunset at the Douglas Preserve.

Monday: We toured beautiful Cambria and Hearst Castle.

Tuesday: Look closely and notice the elephant seals.

Tuesday: We took a quick trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo.

We take a different train trip, this one tours the Santa Barbara Zoo.

Wednesday: The last breakfast at East Beach Grill in Santa Barbara.

The Last Stop: Karen takes the Sunset Limited back to New Orleans.
She returns to her job as wonder designer and over all super project manager at Alane Designs. 

Blue Moon Announcements

Melinda Palacio

Tonight, expect a blue moon, a second full moon in the same month. The last blue moon was three years ago and the next one won't happen until 2018. Dip your feet into water and manifest your dreams and goals. My blue moon experience came earlier this week with an email solicitation from the Academy of American Poets. I was surprised to receive a request, asking if I had any unpublished poem, and on the same day, I received an acceptance. I'm calling the news, My Oscar Moment, since the Academy of American Poets will publish one of my poems in their online poem-a-day series in September. For me, this honor only happens once in a blue moon. I would thank the blue moon herself for seeing me standing alone without a dream in my heart. However,  I am not alone and I have plenty of dreams to spare. I certainly thank everyone at La Bloga. Speaking of blue moons, in a few days, I will have dinner with La Bloga's founder, Rudy. It seems as if it's been longer than a blue moon since I've seen Rudy. I will also meet my niece's baby and maybe a few other friends, certainly, my poetry pal Maria. Unfortunately, I will miss the other two Denver blogueros, Manuel y Lydia, who are traveling to places beyond Colorado. My summer travels will also include a train writing residency on Amtrak's Sunset Limited in a few weeks. What will your blue moon bring?

I will be back in California this time next week, just in time to participate in two readings.

August 8 in Ventura:

The Water and Stone Reading Saturday, August 8 at 3pm in PDT, Art City Studios 197 Dubbers Ventura. La Bloga friend, Jessica Ceballos, will also be reading.

August 23 in Ojai:

The Ojai Art Center presents three Latino Poets: Angel Garcia, Melinda Palacio, and Emma Trelles, along with live music by Alas Latina (vocalist Claudia Simone and guitarist Don Cardinali), Sunday August 23 at 2pm, The Ojai Art Center 113 S. Montgomery Ojai-Literary Branch 805-816-4099.  Come for the poetry and music, stay for the food trucks.

In case you missed it...

A heartwarming story from my hometown, Huntington Park, by Vickie Vertiz for KCET departures. Read all about Chicas Rockers, the first-ever rock camp in HP for girls ages 8-17. 

We Travel by Train

Melinda Palacio

The Santa Barbara Amtrak Depot

Santa Barbara

All Aboard!

The first thing I wanted to do after driving back to Santa Barbara from New Orleans was visit my sister. The parking lot on the 101 freeway gave me some reservation until my friend Lora suggested I take the train. A trip on the Pacific Surfliner was among the best presents I could have given to myself. Fellow Bloguero, Rene Colato Lainez took the train from Union Station in Los Angeles to Santa Barbara earlier this year with a group of writers. They did a mini writing residency on the nearly three-hour ride. When they set foot in Santa Barbara they were happy to briefly leave their lives behind in Los Angeles and enjoy a beautiful day in Santa Barbara. I was just as happy to make a similar trip last Sunday to Los Angeles.

Union Station, the Los Angeles Amtrak Depot

You can go anywhere in the country from Union Station.

Downtown L.A.

I met my sister and Marley for lunch at Olvera Street. While there are plenty of better Mexican restaurants a little further away from the center of where it all began, El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles, I enjoyed playing tourist for a day. We also had the pleasure of meeting fellow Bloguero, Michael Sedano, for lunch.

Inside Union Station

Although we laughed and joked about Michael's last days on this earth (He goes back to surgery next week.), I expect Michael to not have any visits with his ancestors or hiccups with his hospital visit. Earlier this year, a trip to the ER and OR caused him to miss the International Latino/Latina Studies conference in Chicago, where La Bloga also celebrated our 10th anniversary. This was the same conference I missed because I broke my leg last Summer.

Michael Sedano 

Sunday, the weather was picture perfect. I've always realized Union Station's stature. Although I grew up a few miles away, near Alameda Street, the train station frequently served as a backdrop for movies and television shows. Although my family rarely took the Amtrak to Del Rio, Texas, the station loomed in the background, on our way to Chinatown, Highland Park, or Pasadena. And as seen on TV or in the movies, I arrived to a sunny town lined with palm trees, mountains to my right and sky scrapers beyond Olivera Street, my lunch destination.

This first weekend of the new year, I may find myself on the train again, although the trip to Berkeley is much longer and not as direct as the ride to Los Angeles. On Sunday, January 4, I have the honor of reading at the benefit for Michele Serros at the Berkeley (my alma mater) Alumni House. If you are in the bay area, join us for a dinner andfloricanto benefit for Michele Serros on Sunday.

Join us for a dinner and floricanto in honor of Michele Serros